Description
This Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful one-pot meal combining tender shredded chicken with a zesty Italian dressing-based sauce, cream cheese, Parmesan, and perfectly cooked pasta. Cooked low and slow in a crockpot, it’s a hassle-free and comforting dinner that tastes like a copycat version of the popular restaurant dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 16 oz Olive Garden Italian dressing
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Pasta and Garnish
- 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken in the crockpot: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the crockpot as the base for the dish.
- Add the dressing: Pour the entire 16 oz bottle of Olive Garden Italian dressing over the chicken evenly to infuse flavor.
- Add creamy and seasoning ingredients: Layer on the softened cream cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) on top of the chicken and dressing.
- Cook the chicken: Cover the crockpot with its lid and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours until the chicken is tender and can be easily shredded with a fork.
- Shred the chicken: Use two forks to shred the chicken inside the crockpot, mixing it well with the creamy dressing sauce to distribute the flavors evenly.
- Prepare the pasta: Meanwhile, cook the penne or rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking pasta water before draining to use for the sauce consistency.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta and reserved pasta water to the crockpot, stirring everything together thoroughly to coat the pasta in the creamy, flavorful sauce.
- Let flavors meld: Set the crockpot to WARM and let the dish sit for 5-10 minutes to allow the pasta to absorb the sauce and enhance the flavor.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top for a bright, fresh garnish just before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute rotini for penne or any sturdy pasta shape that holds sauce well.
- Red pepper flakes are optional; omit for a milder dish or add more for extra heat.
- Reserving pasta water is key to achieving a creamy sauce consistency when mixing pasta into the crockpot.
- Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently on the stove or microwave to avoid overcooking the pasta.
